Reshaping the GOP

The name might be more wishful thinking than practical politics, but a group of Republican business leaders calling themselves the New Majority are hoping to reshape the GOP to give it a stronger role in state and local politics A look at this new organization seeking to giv the Republican Party a makeover in today's Daily News..

Launched in Orange County seven years ago, the group raised more than $8 million - more than any other contributor - for the effort to recall Gov. Gray Davis and replace him with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who also is a New Majority member.

Since then, the group has expanded to Los Angeles County and now has about 90 members in the area. Organizers also want to establish chapters in San Diego and the Inland Empire to wrest the GOP back from those it considers extremists.

"We are trying to get away from some of the personal attacks that dominate politics today," said John Kilroy, head of the Los Angeles chapter and chairman of Kilroy Realty Corp. "We recognize that not all Democrats are bad and not all Republicans are good.

"We are a Republican organization, but we want to return the party so that people here feel they have a choice and not get involved with all the wedge issues that seem to divide us. What we are looking for is to reduce the influence of those on the extreme edge of issues."